The annual Parkland Dash was held on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023 in Pine Trails Park beginning at 7 a.m. The event was a fundraising event for SOS Children’s Villages Florida, in which participants choose from a 5K run, a five-mile run and a one-mile fun run, mainly for younger applicants.
The SOS Children’s Village is an organization that strives to provide foster homes for children, aging from newborn to 18. They also aid young adults who have grown out of the foster care system. Owning 72 foster homes in South Florida, SOS Children’s Village aims to create a safe and welcoming environment for all foster children in their care.
“Our main mission is keeping sibling sets united while they’re going through the foster care system,” fundraising manager Jenna Kraft said. “What we are trying to offer for the children is stability and consistency.”
Many different groups from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School participated, such as students from the track and cross country teams. Parkland and Coral Springs residents also volunteered for the run.
“I’ve been running cross country on grass pretty much all season,” sophomore Owen Sarrazit said. “When I heard that there was a road race near where I live, I wanted to try it out, since road races naturally make you faster.”
Students from MSD DECA also volunteered at the event. They helped out by giving out water bottles to runners at the finish line as well as giving medals to the all members who ran the race. DECA students also helped with setting up the tents and the event overall.
At the end of all the races, an awarding ceremony was held. In addition to the participation medals every runner got, runners in different age groups got placement medals for first place, second place and third place. Sophomore Caden Wehemyer placed first in the age 15-19 male category.
“I’m happy with how I performed this year at the parkland dash, beating my previous record by nine minutes,” Wehemyer said. “Not only that, but I won my own division.”
In the end, Parkland Dash raised $1,982 of their $5,000 goal.
